By Ahmad | Week 1 | Wednesday | 4 June 2025
Speaker: Lisa Hinchcliffe, Professor and Coordinator for Research Professional Development
What does the future hold for libraries in 3 years, 4 years, or even 10 years from now? While we can’t predict everything, we can prepare. Strategic foresight gives us tools to anticipate what might come, to ground our planning in what we know today, and to build flexible, forward-looking strategies. One such technique is trend analysis. A trend is more than just a passing change it’s a sustained direction of change over time. Trends can move upward or downward, and understanding these patterns helps us make informed decisions.
In the library world, trends are captured through various frameworks. For example, the IFLA Trend Report 2024 (Pink 12–47) outlines global shifts affecting libraries.
These trends are regularly discussed and evaluated, sometimes monthly to ensure we stay responsive.
Other key tools include the Future Wheel, a structured brainstorming method that visually maps out the consequences of a particular trend or change. This technique allows library leaders and staff to explore ripple effects and uncover hidden opportunities or risks.
Another vital resource is the 2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Teaching and Learning Edition, which highlights emerging technologies and pedagogical innovations relevant to academic institutions, including libraries.
Strategic foresight thinking supports:
• Strategic Planning – aligning goals with emerging realities.
• Service Development – evolving services to meet future needs.
• Innovative Identity – imagining new roles for libraries.
• Staff Development – preparing teams for change through training and upskilling.
Importantly, foresight isn’t about predicting one future it’s about preparing for multiple possibilities. When library leaders identify early warning signals, it’s essential to communicate, collaborate, and act.
This session deepened my understanding of how libraries can proactively prepare for the future. Tools like trend analysis, the Future Wheel, and horizon reports offer practical ways to anticipate change and respond with agility. I’ve learned that strategic foresight is not about predicting the future but about being ready for a range of possibilities. For libraries, this means staying informed, embracing innovation, and continually aligning services and skills with emerging needs. Most importantly, it reminded me of the power of collaboration and communication in navigating change effectively.